This stodgy relationship dramedy is directed by Dave Franco, who co-writes with his star (and wife) Alison Brie. I wonder if at some stage in the past one or both of them have seen Jason Reitman’s jet-black comedy Young Adult, scripted by Diablo Cody? There are some distinct similarities. The tone, however, is different: this is an odd combination of broad semi-satirical humour and deeply serious hugging and learning.
Brie plays Ally, a producer in LA who long ago abandoned her dream of making serious documentaries and now runs a silly TV reality show. When this gets humiliatingly cancelled by the network, Ally comes miserably back to her home town in a state of midlife crisis and discovers that she is still very much attracted to Sean (Jay Ellis), a handsome, sweet local guy whose heart she broke 10 years ago by leaving him to pursue her film-making career. Sean is now getting married to a stylish and supercool young musician called Cassidy (Kiersey Clemons). Poor, messed-up Ally hangs around, making everyone uncomfortable with her obvious desire to break up this relationship and get back with Sean.
